Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors, 17 Apr 2024 (draft).pdf

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

1.0 Program Structure and Objective

1.1.1. The Government plans to award a single contract for the Cyber Operations Formal Training Support (CyOFTS) effort. The mission of 39 IOS and their partners is to provide Initial Qualification Training (IQT), USCYBERCOM 2000-level work role training, and advanced training for Total Force (TF) Airmen to plan and execute tasks requiring CO and IO capabilities.

The course offerings currently include disciplines that span Cyberspace Operations, Information Operations, and Instructor Training courses.

1.1.2. This is a competitive 8(a) best value source selection. Award will be made on the basis of best value utilizing Tradeoff Source Selection Procedures. Award will be made to the contractor that provides the best value to the Government over the entire period of performance.

1.1.3. Budget/Funding Information. Funding will be obligated for the Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) for the base period, to include the phase-in period.

1.1.4. Contractor Technical Proposal. All or parts of the Contractor’s Technical Proposal may be added to the contract. Should there be any discrepancies between the Technical Proposal and the Performance Work Statement (PWS), the PWS will take precedence unless otherwise approved by the Procuring Activity.

2.0 General Instructions

2.1.1. This section of the Request for Proposal (RFP) provides general guidance for preparing proposals as well as specific instructions on the format and content of the proposal. The Offeror’s proposal must include all data and information requested by the RFP and must be submitted in accordance with (IAW) these instructions. The offer shall be compliant with the requirements as stated in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Appendices, Contract Data Requirements Listings (CDRL), and RFP. Non-conformance with the instructions provided in this RFP may result in an unfavorable proposal evaluation. Alternate proposals will not be accepted.

2.1.2. Your proposal is due no later than 1200 CDT X XXX 2024. Electronic proposals shall be submitted IAW the Proposal Preparation Instructions found below.

2.1.3. The proposal shall be clear, concise, and include sufficient detail for effective evaluation and for substantiating the validity of stated claims. The proposal should not simply rephrase or restate the Government's requirements but rather shall provide convincing rationale to address how the Offeror intends to meet these requirements. Offerors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of their facilities and experience and will base its evaluation on the information presented in the Offeror’s proposal.

2.1.4. Elaborate brochures or documentation, detailed artwork, or other embellishments are unnecessary and are not desired.

2.1.5. Discrepancies. If an Offeror believes the requirements in these instructions contain an error, omission, or are otherwise unsound, the Offeror shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer (CO) in writing with supporting rationale, as well as, the remedies the Offeror is asking the CO to consider as related to the omission or error.

2.1.6. Acceptance Period. The proposal acceptance period must be for a period of no less than 365 calendar days after receipt of proposal. The Offeror shall make a clear statement in Volume IV, Section A of the proposal documentation volume that the proposal is valid for this amount of time.

2.2 General Information

2.2.1. Point of Contact

The Contracting Officer (CO) is the sole points of contact for this acquisition. Address any questions or concerns you may have to them. Written requests for clarification may be sent to melissa.blair.2@us.af.mil.

2.2.2. Debriefings

The CO will promptly notify offerors of any decision to exclude them from the competitive range, whereupon they may request and receive a debriefing in accordance with FAR 15.505.

Offerors excluded from the competitive range may request a pre-award debriefing or they may choose to wait until after the source selection decision to request a post-award debriefing.

However, offerors excluded from the competitive range are entitled to no more than one debriefing for each proposal. The CO will notify unsuccessful offerors in accordance with FAR

15.503. Upon such notification, unsuccessful offerors may request and receive a debriefing.

Offerors desiring a debriefing must make their request in accordance with the requirements of FAR 15.505 or 15.506, as applicable.

2.2.3. Discrepancies

If an Offeror believes that the requirements in these instructions contain an error, omission, or are otherwise unsound, the Offeror shall immediately notify the CO in writing with supporting rationale as well as the remedies the Offeror is asking the CO to consider as related to the omission or error. The Offeror is reminded that the Government reserves the right to award this effort based on the initial proposal, as received, without discussions. This reservation includes matters of additional or substitute pages of the initial proposal.

2.2.4. Electronic Reference Documents

All referenced documents for this solicitation are available on the System for Award Management (SAM) website at https://sam.gov. Potential offerors are encouraged to subscribe for real-time e-mail notifications when information has been posted to the website for this solicitation.

2.2.5. Amendments to Solicitation

If this RFP is amended, all terms and conditions that are not amended remain unchanged and in full force and effect. Offerors shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment and provide confirmation upon submission of the Offeror’s proposal. Any unacknowledged amendments in the Offeror’s proposal are subject to solicitation provision FAR 52.212-1(f).

mailto:melissa.blair.2@us.af.mil https://sam.gov/

2.2.6. Submission, Modification, Revision, and Withdrawal of Proposals Proposal packages shall be submitted to the PIEE Solicitation Module. Physical delivery of proposal packages will not be accepted.

2.2.7 Communications

Exchanges of source selection information between Government and Offerors will be controlled by the CO. E-mail (encrypted when possible or with password protected attachments) may be used to transmit such information to Offerors and shall include “Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 & 3.104” in the subject line.

2.3. Organization/Number of Copies/Page Limits

2.3.1. The Title Page of each volume shall contain the solicitation number, name, address, and telephone of the Offeror and electronic e-mail address if available.

2.3.2. A Team List of the Offeror’s primary Point of Contacts shall be submitted in each volume.

2.3.3. The Offeror shall prepare the proposal as set forth in the Proposal Organization Table (Table 1 below). The titles and contents of the volumes shall be as defined in this table, all of which shall be within the required page limits and with the number of copies as specified in Table 1. The contents of each proposal volume are noted in the table below.

TABLE 1 – PROPOSAL ORGANIZATION

VOLUME VOLUME TITLE COPY PAGE LIMIT

I TECHNICAL ELECTRONIC 25

II PRESENT/PAST

PERFORMANCE ELECTRONIC 30

III PRICE PROPOSAL ELECTRONIC No Limit (See Para 5.0)

IV Contract Documentation ELECTRONIC No Limit (See Para 6.0)

2.3.4 Names

Offerors shall submit volumes with the following file names: Volume I – Technical.doc or .docx, Volume II – Past Performance.doc or .docx, Volume III – Price.doc or .docx with PricingMatrix.xlsx, and Volume IV – Contract.doc or docx. Files provided in .pdf format are also acceptable if conversion is made from a Word document or equivalent Word processing software while maintaining searchable text.

2.3.5. Page Limitations

Page limitations shall be treated as maximums. If exceeded, the excess pages will not be considered in the evaluation of the proposal. Page limitations may also be placed on responses to Evaluation Notices (ENs). The specified page limits for EN responses will be identified in the letters forwarding the ENs to the offerors. Each page shall be counted except the following:

blank pages, title pages, tables of contents, tabs, indexes, glossaries, and those noted in the Proposed Organization Chart as unlimited.

2.3.6. Pricing Information

The price proposal shall not include information beyond that required by this instruction unless the Offeror considers it essential to document or support Offeror’s price position. All information relating to the proposed price, including all required supporting documentation must be included in this part or assumptions of the proposal. Under no circumstances shall this information and documentation be included in the Technical or Past Performance volumes.

2.3.7. Cross Referencing

The Offeror shall provide a cross reference matrix, which does not count against the page count of Volume I, Past Performance and Volume II, Technical. To the greatest extent possible, each volume shall be written on a stand-alone basis so that its contents may be evaluated with a minimum of cross referencing to other volumes of the proposal. Cross referencing within a proposal volume is permitted where its use would conserve space without impairing clarity.

Information required for proposal evaluation which is not found in its designated volume will be assumed to have been omitted from the proposal.

2.3.8. Indexing

Each volume shall contain a more detailed table of contents to delineate the subparagraphs within that volume. Tab indexing shall be used to identify sections.

2.3.9 Tables and Figures

Include an indexed list of Tables and Figures

2.3.10. Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms

Each volume shall contain a glossary of all abbreviations and acronyms used, and with an explanation for each. Glossaries do not count against the page limitations for their respective volumes.

2.4. Page Size and Format

2.4.1. A page is defined as each face of a sheet of paper containing information. When both sides of a sheet display printed material, it shall be counted as two pages. Page size shall be 8.5 x 11 inches, not including foldouts. Page line spacing shall be 1.5 lines. Except for the reproduced sections of the solicitation document, the text size shall be no less than 12 points Times New Roman, Courier, or Arial. Tracking, kerning, and leading values shall not be changed from the default values of the word processing or page layout software. Use at least 1 inch margins on the top and bottom and 3/4 inch side margins. Pages shall be numbered sequentially by volume. These page format restrictions shall apply to responses to Evaluation Notice (ENs).

2.4.2. Legible tables, charts, graphs and figures shall be used wherever practical to depict organizations, systems and layout, implementation schedules, plans, etc. These displays shall be uncomplicated and shall not exceed 11 x 17 inches in size. Foldout pages shall fold entirely within the volume, and count as a single page. Foldout pages may only be used for large tables, charts, graphs, diagrams and schematics; not for pages of text. The following limitation only applies to the Technical Volume. Text intended for evaluation within all figures, charts, tables, and graphs, to include imbedded images, shall be no less than Arial 8-pt. Any text within figures, charts, tables, and graphs which do not meet this requirement will not be considered in the evaluation.

2.5 Electronic Offers

2.5.1. All proposals shall be submitted using DoD SAFE, https://safe.apps.mil/. All interested Offerors must e-mail ACCAMIC.PMS.CyOFTSIIIQuestions@us.af.mil in order to receive a request code to drop-off (upload) files in DoD SAFE. One of the Government Points of Contact (GPOCs) will send an e-mail to the Offeror acknowledging the request for a proposal drop-off code in DoD Safe. The GPOC e-mail acknowledging the request will not be sent to the Offeror after close of business hours, weekends, or on nationally observed holidays. If you do not receive an acknowledgement e-mail from either of the GPOCs after 72 hours, you must send another e-mail. E-mails will not be returned after close of business hours, weekends, or on nationally observed holidays. After the e-mail request for a drop-off code has been sent from the Offeror and the Offeror has received the acknowledgment e-mail from either GPOC, the Offeror will then receive an e-mail from DoD SAFE to drop-off proposals and other requested documents. If the Offeror does not receive the e-mail from DoD SAFE the Offeror will need to check SPAM and JUNK folders before requesting another drop-off code from the GPOC. The request for drop-off is only valid for 14 days. If the 14 days has expired and the RFP is still open, the Offeror may send another e-mail request for drop-off code to the GPOCs e-mail addresses listed above.

2.5.2. Be advised that classified information is not allowed on DoD SAFE. Any files containing CUI/PII/PHI must be encrypted prior to uploading or by checking the “Encrypt every file” box.

The Offeror is allowed to drop-off one or more files (up to 8GB total). The Offeror may select the box ‘Send me an e-mail when each recipient picks up the files” for documentation purposes.

The GPOC will receive an automated e-mail containing the information the Offeror has entered and instructions for downloading the file(s). The GPOC will have 7 days to retrieve the files submitted in the drop-off. DoD SAFE does not guarantee delivery of documents within a specified time period under 4 hours.

2.5.3. All electronic documents and files submitted shall contain the volume number and title.

Use separate files to permit rapid location of all portions, including subfactors, required plans, exhibits, appendices, and attachments, if any. The Offeror shall submit volumes I through IV in electronic format. Each volume shall be submitted as a separate file. The electronic copies of the proposal shall be submitted in a format readable by Microsoft (MS) Office 365 Word, MS Office 365 Excel, MS Office 365 Power Point, and Adobe PDF Note: files must be searchable and able to copy and paste. For amendment purposes to the proposal, the "original" proposal shall be clearly identified.

2.6. Distribution

2.6.1 Once the Offeror has uploaded the Offeror’s proposal in its entirety DoD SAFE, the Offeror shall take a screen shot (Print Screen function) of the Offeror’s DoD SAFE upload confirmation screen showing all the uploaded files included in the proposal submission. The Offeror shall notify ACCAMIC.PMS.CyOFTSIIIQuestions@us.af.mil by email that the files have been uploaded and provide a copy of the DoD SAFE completed upload confirmation screen shot.

If the proposal files are uploaded in their entirety prior to the proposal closing date and time, and the Offeror has notified ACCAMIC.PMS.CyOFTSIIIQuestions@us.af.mil the files have been uploaded (notification is to include the DoD SAFE upload confirmation screen shot has also been provided), the proposal will be considered timely, even if the files are not accessible to the mailto:ACCAMIC.PMS.CyOFTSIIIQuestions@us.af.mil mailto:ACCAMIC.PMS.CyOFTSIIIQuestions@us.af.mil

PCO in DoD SAFE until after the proposal closing date and time. If the Offeror fails to notify ACCAMIC.PMS.CyOFTSIIIQuestions@us.af.mil by email, the files will be considered timely if they are accessible in DoD SAFE prior to the closing date and time. However, they will be considered late proposals, if they are not accessible until after the proposal date and time.

Email addresses are as follows:

ACCAMIC.PMS.CyOFTSIIIQuestions@us.af.mil

3.0 Factor 1, Technical, Volume I

3.1. General Instructions

The Technical Volume should be specific and complete. Legibility, clarity, and coherence are very important. Your responses will be evaluated against the Technical subfactor defined in Section M, Evaluation Factors for Award. Using the instructions provided below, provide as specifically as possible the actual methodology you would use for accomplishing/satisfying these subfactors. All the requirements specified in the solicitation are mandatory. By your proposal submission, you are representing that your firm will perform all the requirements specified in the solicitation. It is neither necessary nor desirable for you to tell us so in your proposal. Do not merely reiterate the objectives or reformulate the requirements specified in the solicitation.

In the Technical Volume, address your proposed approach to meeting the minimum performance or capability requirements of each technical subfactor.

3.1.1. Volume Organization

The Technical Volume shall be organized according to the following general outline:

(1) Table of Contents/Glossary

(2) Labor Matrix

(3) Subfactor One – Management Plan/Staffing Plan

3.1.2. Technical Subfactor. Offeror shall address its proposed approach to meeting the performance or capability requirements of the technical subfactor as follows:

SUBFACTOR 1 – Management Plan/Staffing Plan

a. This subfactor is met when the offeror demonstrates an acceptable management/staffing approach that explains how it will meet the PWS requirements and the appendices. The approach shall meet the following criteria (do not include employee names or resumes):

i. Offeror has an Active TOP SECRET Facility Clearance or have submitted a TOP SECRET Facility Clearance request to the DSS Facility Clearance Branch and are affected by the Government Delay of the Transfer to the National Industrial Security System (NISS).

ii. An acceptable organizational structure to include a completed CyOFTS III Labor Matrix that provides certified personnel resources, including any subcontracting and teaming arrangements. The organizational structure shall adequately demonstrate the labor categories, position descriptions, security clearances, number of fully qualified positions available on Day One and minimum acceptable qualifications necessary to meet the requirements identified in the PWS.

iii. An acceptable methodology for recruiting, training, accession and retention of certified personnel, training, obtaining/maintaining personnel clearances and certifications. Methodology adequately addresses continuity of service during personnel absences due to sickness, leave and vacancies such that impact to the 39 IOS mission is not impacted.

iv. An acceptable transition plan that ensures continuity of services and a smooth effective transition where they have the ability to be fully staffed and ready to begin performance on day 1 of the contract non discriminator.

4.0 Factor 2 – Present/Past Performance, Volume II

4.1.1. Each Offeror shall submit Present/Past Performance Information (PPI) with Volume II, Past Performance, using the DOD SAFE as referenced in 2.5 above. This information is required for the Offeror and all subcontractors, teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners who perform aspects of the effort the Offeror considers critical to overall successful performance.

Offerors are cautioned that the Government will use data provided by each Offeror in this volume and data obtained from other sources in the evaluation of past performance. Past performance of either party in a joint venture counts for the past performance of the entity, however, at least one PPI must be from the prime. Organizational Structure Change History and Consent/Client Authorization letters will not be included in the overall page limitation for Past Performance of 30 pages. The Cross Reference Matrix should be included in this Volume to show the Prime and all subcontractors are allocated to work in the areas they are representing in their submitted PPIs. The cross reference matrix should be included in Volume II submission.

4.1.2. Recent and Relevant Contracts. Offeror shall submit a maximum of five PPIs that the Offeror considers most relevant in demonstrating ability to perform the proposed effort. The total includes any subcontractors or teaming partners; however, at least one PPI must be from the prime. Do not duplicate a contract reference for prime and subcontractor but rather explain the role each played within the contract reference itself. Task orders associated with IDIQ type contracts shall count as one PPI per task order. For a description of the characteristics or aspects the Government will consider in determining relevance (Attachment 1, Relevancy Assessment Matrix).

To be recent, the effort must be on going or must have been performed during the past three years from the date of issuance of this RFP. On-going actions will be considered as recent as long as the effort has been performed for at least six months as of the release of the RFP. PPI that fails to meet this condition will not be evaluated.

4.1.3. Specific Content

Offerors are required to explain what aspects of the contracts are deemed relevant to the proposed effort and to what aspects of the proposed effort they relate. This may include a discussion of efforts accomplished by the Offeror to resolve problems encountered on present/prior contracts as well as present/past efforts to identify and manage program risk. Merely having problems does not automatically equate to a limited or no confidence rating, since the problems encountered may have been on a more complex program, or an Offeror may have subsequently demonstrated the ability to overcome the problems encountered. The Offeror is required to clearly demonstrate management actions employed in overcoming problems and the effects of those actions in terms of improvements achieved or problems rectified.

4.1.4. Organizational Structure Change History

Many companies have acquired, been acquired by, or otherwise merged with other companies, and/or reorganized their divisions, business groups, subsidiary companies, etc. In many cases, these changes have taken place during the time of performance of relevant past efforts or between conclusion of recent present/past efforts and this source selection. As a result, it is sometimes difficult to determine what present/past performance is relevant to this acquisition. To facilitate this relevancy determination, include in this proposal volume a "roadmap" describing all such changes in the company's organization. As part of this explanation, show how these changes impact the relevancy of any efforts the Offeror identifies for present/past performance evaluation/performance confidence assessment. Since the Government intends to consider PPI provided by other sources as well as that provided by the Offeror(s), Offerors "roadmap" should be both specifically applicable to the efforts Offeror identifies and general enough to apply to efforts on which the Government receives information from other sources.

4.2 Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ)

4.2.1. The Offeror shall send out and confirm receipt and submission of the PPQ (Attachment 2, Past Performance Questionnaire), from each of the Offerors, critical subcontractors’, teaming contractors’ and/or joint venture partners’ (i.e., each entity’s). The responsibility to send out the PPQs rests solely with the Offeror. For each PPQ, complete and sign a letter containing substantially the same information as in the Sample Questionnaire Cover Letter (Attachment 3, Sample Questionnaire Cover Letter). Cover letters should be printed on company letterhead. The Offeror shall exert its best effort to ensure that a current POC, per relevant contract, submits a completed PPQ directly to the Government not later than the proposal due date. Each of the Offerors’ POCs shall e-mail the completed PPQ directly to Melissa Blair at melissa.blair.2@us.af.mil. Please instruct POC to e-mail Ms. Blair with any questions.

4.2.2. PPQs shall be sent directly to the Government from at least one of the following POCs:

Program/Project Manager or equivalent, Contracting Officer/Contract Administrator or equivalent, or Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Once the PPQs are completed by the POCs, the information contained therein shall be considered sensitive and shall not be released to the Offeror.

4.2.3. Consent Letters. The Offeror shall provide original consent letters for each Teaming Partner and/or joint venture partner. Past performance information concerning subcontractors and Teaming Partners cannot be disclosed to a private party without the subcontractor’s or Teaming Partner’s consent. Because a prime contractor is a private party, the Government will need that consent before disclosing Teaming Partner past and present performance information to the prime during exchanges. Consent letters are evaluated only to the extend that they are complete and present for each Teaming Partner, and/pr joint venture partner that presented past performance information in the proposal (Attachment 4, Consent Letter).

mailto:melissa.blair.2@us.af.mil

4.3 Client Authorization Letters.

Past performance information concerning private sector contractors, subcontractors and joint venture partners cannot be disclosed to the Government without their consent. Client authorization letters are required for each identified effort for a commercial customer. This letter will authorize release to the Government of requested information on the Offerors performance.

The Government will need the consent before contacting commercial customers to assess the Offerors past performance. In an effort to assist the evaluators in assessing Offeror’s past performance relevancy and confidence, the Government requests the following client authorization letter be completed for any commercial customers identified in Offeror’s proposal.

Offeror shall include the completed client authorization letter(s) within the Past Performance Volume for each teaming partner. (Attachment 5, Client Authorization Letter).

4.3.1. Reference Data. The Government reserves the right to contact and use information provided by the references and any other sources. The Government will also obtain and consider information about other contracts not mentioned in the Offeror’s proposal, but which the Government believes to be similar to the proposed effort. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to ensure all reference data is current and correct so that the Government can properly evaluate PPI.

5.0 Volume III – Price, Volume III

5.1.1. This section is to assist the Offeror in submitting information, other than certified cost or pricing data which is required to evaluate the Completeness, Price Reasonableness, Unbalanced Pricing, and Professional Employee Compensation Realism of the Offeror’s proposed price.

Compliance with these requirements is mandatory and failure to comply may result in rejection of the Offeror’s proposal. The burden of proof for credibility of proposed prices rests with the Offeror at the time of proposal submission. The price proposal shall not include information beyond that required by this instruction unless the Offeror considers it essential to document or support the Offeror’s price position. All information relating to the proposed price, including all required supporting documentation, shall be included in the section of the proposal designated as the Price Volume.

Under no circumstances shall this information and documentation be included elsewhere in the proposal. Adequate price competition is anticipated, and IAW with FAR 15.403-1(b)(3), this acquisition is exempt from certified cost or pricing data. However, should adequate price competition not exist after receipt of proposals, the provisions of FAR Part 15.403-3 and –4 shall apply, and the Offeror may be asked to provide certified or other than certified cost or pricing data.

5.1.2. Price Reasonableness: A price is reasonable if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person in the conduct of competitive business. The Government will not award to an Offeror with a proposed price which is determined not to be fair and reasonable. The Government anticipates adequate price competition.

5.1.3. Completeness: A proposal is complete when all pricing data required under this solicitation is provided in the format prescribed and the Offeror has complied with all pricing requirements of the solicitation.

5.1.3. Price Reasonableness: A price is reasonable if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person in the conduct of competitive business. The Government will not award to an Offeror with a proposed price which is determined not to be fair and reasonable. The Government anticipates adequate price competition.

5.1.4. Unbalanced Pricing: Unbalanced pricing may increase performance risk and could result in the payment of unreasonably high prices. Unbalanced pricing exists when, despite an acceptable Total Evaluated Price (TEP), the price of one or more line items is significantly over or understated as indicated by the application of cost or price analysis techniques. The Government may consider an offer unbalanced if there is a significant difference between proposed prices from year to year, including option years, such that they are above or below what would be considered a reasonable adjustment for inflation, or if the frontloading of costs is present. An offer may be rejected if the Contracting Officer determines that the lack of balance poses an unacceptable risk to the Government.

5.1.5. Professional Employee Compensation Realism is a separate evaluation from the TEP evaluation. Professional Employee Compensation that is unrealistically low or not in a reasonable relationship to the various job categories, since it may impair the Offeror’s ability to attract and retain competent professional service employees, may be viewed as evidence of failure to comprehend the complexity of the contract requirements.

5.2. CyOFTS III Pricing Labor Matrix

5.2.1. The Government has developed a CyOFTS III Pricing Labor Matrix (Attachment 6, Pricing Labor Matrix). The CyOFTS III Pricing Labor Matrix shall be completed in accordance with the following instructions. Offerors shall fill in all necessary information in the empty blocks. If the contractor fails to fill in a section or makes adjustments to the information already provided by the Government, then the contractor shall include appropriate rationale for no-bid.

5.2.2. The CyOFTS III Pricing Labor Matrix shall be in Excel Format and the spreadsheet shall be unlocked. Offerors shall not alter any formulas in the CyOFTS III Pricing Labor Matrix. If there is an error in any formula, please notify the Contracting Officer immediately.

5.3. Pricing Labor Matrix Tab 2

5.3.1. Offerors shall input their company name and cage code in the white cells in the top of the sheet. The remaining cells will be prepopulated to provide the proposed price by CLIN based on the Offeror's inputs in the white cells in TABS 3-8. The Offeror's labor hours and fully burdened labor rate inputs will calculate the extended price for each labor category using locked formulas in TAB 2 and will pull the total labor price and access fee price into the dark gray cells and the total CLIN price into the orange cells in TAB 2 from the corresponding cells from within TABS 3-8 Labor Categories. Unit price will be calculated automatically in the blue cells in TAB 2 using the extended price pulled into the dark gray cells from TABS 3-8 and the unit quantities prepopulated in the gray cells in TAB 2. The Total Evaluated Price in the gold cells will also automatically populate.

5.4. Transition Period Tab 2

5.4.1. CLIN 0001 on Tab 2 of the CyOFTS III Pricing Labor Matrix is specifically for Transition Period costs. The transition period will be 1 month (30 calendar days) from date of award. All Offerors shall propose labor categories, labor rates, and number of FTEs that will be required for the transition of the incumbent contractor to the new contractor.

5.5. Labor Categories Tab 3-8

5.5.1. Offerors shall input their company name and cage code in the white cells at the top of the sheet. Offerors shall input the proposed labor hours, fully burdened labor rate, and number of applicable FTEs within the white cells for each labor category. The extended price for each labor category will be calculated by locked formulas in these tabs and automatically populate in the light gray column within each period and the total labor cost by CLIN and period will then automatically populate in the darker gray cells. As data costs are not separately priced (NSP), no cost will be identified for the CLIN. The Total Evaluated Price (TEP) for the period will also automatically populate in the gold cells.

5.5.2. The Government may exercise optional FTEs as needed. These will be exercised at the same labor rates as the core FTEs for that option period when needed. The optional FTEs will not be included in the Total Evaluated Price. These will be exercised at the discretion of the Government by means of contract modification.

5.5.3. The Government has populated estimated prices for travel and ODCs, based on historical market research and anticipated level of effort. Travel and ODCs will be established as Cost Reimbursable (CR) CLINs, with not to exceed ceilings, and therefore does not require evaluation. Travel and ODC cells are locked and shall not be altered. Note: Profit is not allowable for travel and ODCs.

5.5.4. Proposal pricing shall not exceed two spaces past the decimal point. For evaluation purposes only, the six (6) month, FAR 52.217-8, Extension of Services shall utilize Option 4 pricing based upon half the proposed total annual labor price from Option Year 4; all cells are locked. However, should the Government elect to exercise any part or all of the six (6) month Extension of Services, it will be calculated at the labor price in effect of the affected year.

Labor Categories Tabs 3-8, represents the anticipated CLIN structure for contract award.

5.6. Professional Compensation Plan

5.6.1. The Offeror shall submit a Professional Compensation Plan consisting of both a narrative and a Professional Compensation Matrix (Attachment 7, Professional Compensation Plan). IAW FAR Subpart 22.11 and FAR 52.222-46, Evaluation of Compensation for Professional Employees (Feb 1993), Offerors shall submit a Total Compensation Plan setting forth salaries and fringe benefits proposed for the professional employees who will work under the task order.

5.6.2. The Compensation Plan Narrative shall provide planned compensation for all professional employee labor categories proposed to perform the effort. Fringe benefit data shall include a description of the benefits offered, and to which professional employee category(ies) the fringe benefits apply.

5.6.3. Instructions for completing CyOFTS III Professional Compensation Matrix included in the spreadsheet.

5.6.4. The prime may instruct subcontractors/teaming partners to electronically submit their Compensation Plans (Narrative and Professional Comp Matrix) directly to the Contracting Officer.

5.6.5. Offerors may propose one (1) Compensation Plan Narrative and one (1) Professional Comp Matrix for the entire team, however salary support data must clearly link to proposed rates in the Professional Comp Matrix.

5.6.6. Offerors proposing one (1) Compensation Plan Narrative and one (1) Professional Comp Matrix for the entire team shall include the Compensation Plan (Narrative and Professional Comp Matrix) in the prime contractor’s proposal.

5.6.7. The Compensation Plan(s) submitted in the proposal will not become part of the awarded contract. If proposing more than one (1) of the Offeror’s labor category/rate for a single Government labor category, provide the Offeror’s categories and the calculations used to develop the base labor rate for each specific Government labor category.

5.6.8. Offeror shall provide salary support data from recent surveys and/or studies from professional, public, and private organizations (e.g., Watson & Wyatt, Economic Research Institute, Bureau of Labor Statistics, etc.) used to support the proposed compensation. Identify the source of the provided surveys and studies. Data may be in the form of reports, payrolls, table of labor categories with salary ranges, and etc. If not using one of the sources listed above, explain the credibility of the source providing the surveys and studies. Support data shall be included in the Compensation Plan Narrative.

5.6.9. Unrealistically low professional employee salaries may impair the Offeror’s ability to attract and retain competent professional employees and may be viewed as evidence of failure to comprehend the complexity of the contract requirements.

5.6.10. All pricing information, except the Compensation Plan Narrative, shall be submitted in MS Excel format (Pricing Labor Matrix and Professional Comp Matrix, Attachments 6 and 7).

Price proposal documents shall not be password protected. Offerors must ensure that pricing information is only included in Volume III.

6.0 Volume IV – Contract Documentation

6.1. Model Contract/Representations and Certifications

The purpose of this volume is to provide information to the Government for preparing the contract document and supporting file.

6.1.1. Solicitation/Contract Form

Completion of blocks 12, 17 and signature and date for blocks 30a, 30b and 30c of the SF1449.

Signature by the offeror on the SF1449 constitutes an offer, which the Government may accept.

6.1.2. Contract Clauses

The offeror shall provide required information to complete clauses as required.

6.1.3. OCI Mitigation Plan

The Offeror shall submit an OCI Mitigation Plan, if an OCI issue is identified. The Offeror shall include, in Volume IV, the OCI Mitigation Plan IAW AFFARS 5352.209- 9000 and AFFARS

5352.209-9001 which will become part of the contract upon award. The proposed OCI mitigation plan shall: 1) Describe in detail any actual or potential OCI of which the Offeror is aware of with the performance with its division, affiliates, and/or subcontractors under any contract the Offeror or any of its divisions/affiliates/subcontractors has been or may be awarded by any federal agency or any other entity whose performance may create an OCI if awarded this contract; 2) Describe in detail the methodology the Offeror used to identify those potential or actual OCI described in paragraph 1); and 3) Describe in detail the specific techniques the Offeror intends to use to mitigate each identified potential or actual OCI.

6.1.4. Joint Venture Agreements

Per the Small Business Administration (SBA), Joint Ventures are allowable on small business set-asides. IAW 13 CFR 125.8 (d), “Prior to the performance of any contract set aside or reserved for small business by a joint venture between a protégé small business and a mentor authorized by § 125.9, the small business partner to the joint venture must submit a written certification to the contracting officer and SBA, signed by an authorized official of each partner to the joint venture." A copy of the Joint Venture agreement should be submitted within Volume IV.

6.1.5. Representations, Certifications, and other Statements of Offerors The offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website at https://www.sam.gov. Offeror shall be eligible for award under the specified NAICS code, 611420 and as a small business at the time of their proposal submission. Include detailed list of prime and all subcontractors Name, CAGE code, and DUNS. After reviewing the SAM database information, the offeror verifies by submission of this offer that the representation and certifications currently posted electronically at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items are correct.

6.1.6. Exceptions to Solicitation Requirements

Offerors are required to meet all solicitation requirements, such as terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements, in addition to those identified as evaluation factors or subfactors. Failure to meet a requirement may result in an offer being ineligible for award. Offerors must clearly identify any exception to the solicitation terms and conditions and provide complete accompanying rationale. Each exception shall be specifically related to each paragraph and/or specific part of the solicitation to which the exception is taken.

Provide rationale in support of the exception and fully explain its impact, if any, on the performance, schedule, cost, and specific requirements of the solicitation. This information shall be provided in the format and content of Table 6.2. Offerors are cautioned the Government could determine any identified exceptions to be unacceptable, which would make the proposal ineligible for award.

TABLE 2 – RFP EXCEPTIONS

RFP DOCUMENT PAGE/PARAGRAPH REQUIREMENT RATIONALE

PWS, ITO,

Evaluation Factor, etc.

Applicable Page and Paragraph Numbers

Identify the requirement to which exception is taken

Describe why the requirement can/will not be met

6.2. Other Information Required

6.2.1. Ombudsman

An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from Offerors or potential Offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The Ombudsman for this acquisition is XXX This does not diminish the authority of the program director or CO, but communicates Offeror concerns, issues, disagreements and recommendations to the appropriate Government personnel.

When requested, the Ombudsman shall maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process; interested parties are invited to call XXX.

6.2.2. Authorized Offeror Personnel

Provide the name, title, and telephone number of the company/division point of contact regarding decisions made with respect to your proposal and who can obligate your company contractually. Also, identify those individuals authorized to negotiate with the Government.

6.2.3. Government Offices

Provide the mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and facility codes for the cognizant Contract Administration Office, DCAA, and Government Paying Office. Also, provide the name and telephone and fax number for the Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO).

6.2.4. Company/Division Address, Identifying Codes, and Applicable Designations Provide company/division's street address, county and facility code; CAGE code; DUNS code;

TIN; size of business (large or small); and labor surplus area designation. This same information must be provided if the work for this contract will be performed at any other location(s). List all locations where work is to be performed and indicate whether such facility is a division, affiliate, or subcontractor, and the percentage of work to be performed at each location.